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Dual Enrollment in Georgia: What Has Changed?

In April this year, Georgia passed  the Dual Enrollment Act, making changes to the existing Move On When Ready (MOWR) program. In order to control burgeoning expenses, the Act limits dual enrollment to 30 credit hours and makes it available only to high school juniors and seniors in most cases. The new rules are in effect as of this summer and apply to students who have already begun dual enrolling.

Two Paths

College-bound junior and senior students with a strong academic track record are encouraged to take college courses that count toward a degree and toward high school graduation. These students usually take core coursework in English, mathematics, science, language, and the social sciences. Approved courses are matched to high school coursework for accreditation purposes. The state pays for all tuition, student fees, and books for up to 30 hours of instruction. (Families may be responsible for course fees.) Students who exceed the 30 hours may continue to dual enroll, but must pay for their coursework, fees, etc.

The second path is for students who wish to enter a training program in technology, an associate’s degree, or another career track. These students may begin dual enrolling in the 10th grade through the Technical College System of Georgia. They are limited to 30 hours of state-funded instruction through dual enrollment.

One Exception

Tenth graders who have a minimum SAT score of 1200 or a minimum composite ACT score of 26 on a single test (who meet Zell Miller Scholarship requirements as sophomores) may dual enroll in either path. The qualifying score must be on file with GFFC (Georgia Student Finance Commission) before application for dual enrollment funds.

Other changes include a provision that the program will not pay for a student to retake a course from which he or she withdrew

Homeschooled students are still eligible for dual enrollment, subject to the new limitations above.

Considerations for Homeschooled Students and Families

Dual enrolling offers significant benefits to homeschoolers, not only in reducing the cost of college, but in demonstrating rigor, which is especially important for unaccredited students. For example, the University of Georgia requires unaccredited homeschooled applicants to “demonstrate their academic ability through standardized test scores and/or accredited course work.” Homeschooled students can meet this requirement through tests: SAT/ACT (for math and English only) AP, SATII, International Baccalaureate (IB); or through an accredited college transcript. UGA admissions requires this validation in every core area: English, math, science, foreign language, and social science.

Living Science Academy offers three dual enrollment courses through Truett-McConnell University: Freshman Composition 1 and 2 and Introduction to Psychology. These courses, offered on the Living Science Campus, are a great place for students to begin their college careers.

TL;DR

  • State-funded dual enrollment hours are now capped at 30 semester hours and 45 quarter hours per student.
  • Only juniors and seniors are eligible for dual enrollment in most circumstances
  • The State will not pay for any course from which a student withdraws.
  • Living Science offers dual enrollment classes through Truett-McConnell University

For more details, visit

Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) Dual Enrollment

By Lisa Gallion | Aug 18, 2020

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Psalm 127:4

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.